Teaching Degree - Depression

naomi123

Well Im doing a PGCE with depression.

To be honest, Ive found that I feel MUCH MUCH better when Im in school and doing something constructive and purposeful. I enjoy teaching and it has helped boost my self esteem and confidence loads.

Obviously Im still doing my PGCE so fairly keen, Im sure things will change 5 years down the line! :rotfl:

alwaysonthego_2

mumps wrote: »

I think that is a very unkind way to talk to someone who has said they suffer from depression and came on to give some support to someone else. I hope you are more supportive to your clients.

How do you know that ONW has not got depression.

ONW, perhaps you should have said '...of course my darling you will get on a PGCE course really easily as they are desperate for teachers'
Where in reality it is very competitive to get on to a PGCE and not many people are successful and there are a lack of teaching jobs with many graduates having to work at Tesco or an office.

mumps

alwaysonthego wrote: »

How do you know that ONW has not got depression.

ONW, perhaps you should have said '...of course my darling you will get on a PGCE course really easily as they are desperate for teachers'
Where in reality it is very competitive to get on to a PGCE and not many people are successful and there are a lack of teaching jobs with many graduates having to work at Tesco or an office.

If ONW has depression she has my sympathies but it doesn't mean she needs to have an attitude with someone who stated they have depression and was only trying to be supportive to someone else.

Sorry, I work with people with depression and I don't think you need to be patronising but you don't need to shoot them down in flames either. You can be realistic in a positive way.

Catseyez

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I know that this is a facetious comment but many people would say that if you're not depressed when you go into teaching, you soon will be!

Facetious? Maybe. Realistic? Most definitely! There are plenty of studies that show a high rate of depression among teachers (and other similar professions), so this is a very valid comment IMHO.

Remembering back to my school days...in primary school, two teachers had to leave due to "breakdowns". One of those was a music teacher who I vividly recall throwing, and subsequently breaking, her instrument across the room in a fit of rage.

A teacher in secondary school wasn't so fortunate and ended up committing suicide.

I think if you're able to recognise your depression, have it under control and know what your triggers are, then you should be in a better position to handle the pressure than someone who has less insight. That's my opinion anyway!

ZiggyStardust_2

I've been accepted on to a PGCE, have depression on my medical records (which would have been checked) so don't worry x

Oldernotwiser

mumps wrote: »

I think that is a very unkind way to talk to someone who has said they suffer from depression and came on to give some support to someone else. I hope you are more supportive to your clients.

What was unkind? The poor woman's embarking on a Creative Writing degree with a view to becoming a teacher; at the end of 3 years she'll have £24,000 of debt and nobody'll accept her on a PGCE. Why would it be kind to let her waste her time and money in this way, without even giving her a warning?

Being supportive doesn't mean just saying "yeah,yeah" to everything anybody suggests. Giving clients a reality check and a realistic view of their future is really important sometimes.

Edit; If she was my client I would suggest that she do Creative Writing and English which would open far more doors.

mumps

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Excuse me! Whatever you "personally believe", I was a teacher for many years and had to retire from the profession on grounds of depression. You don't have to agree with me but I am speaking from a position of some experience!

Edit: As an additional point, if you're doing a degree in Creative Writing, what subject exactly do you expect to teach!

You might think this comes across as being supportive but that isn't how it sounds to me. I never suggested being supportive meant saying "yeah yeah."

How do you know nobody will accept her on a PGCE? I know someone who was told she wouldn't get on a PGCE, she did and qualified and two years later was made head of a department. Her Head Teacher said she was one of the most inspirational young teacher she had ever worked with. I realise this can't happen to everyone but you might be surprised and she might get on a PGCE. Nothing wrong with constructive advice but I think you were harsh to someone who is quite possibly 18 and has suffered from depression.

Catseyez

I don't think having a degree in creative writing would necessarily preclude someone from being accepted onto a PGCE course. A friend of mine did her PGCE with an undergraduate degree in dance. When she finished her PGCE, she got offered a job in a primary school and started within days of qualifying.

Oldernotwiser

In the last few years, primary teaching has become enormously competitive and you're usually expected to have a degree with at least 50% National Curriculum content, which would include PE so Dance would be relevant.

We all know people who've succeeded in something that's normally not possible but that doesn't mean that it's a sensible route to take. There's a big difference between someone with a degree in Creative Writing who decides later to become a teacher and someone who wants to teach deliberately studying a degree which will make this very difficult.

In this life you have to give yourself the best chance possible of success rather than going your own sweet way and hoping you'll be the exception that proves the rule!

(As the poster in question says that she's done a PTLLS then she's not going to be 18!)

Catseyez

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

In the last few years, primary teaching has become enormously competitive and you're usually expected to have a degree with at least 50% National Curriculum content, which would include PE so Dance would be relevant. )

What about a subject such as business studies? I know of a primary school teacher whose undergraduate subject was in BS. That teacher also has dyslexia and struggles with English, but had no problem getting a job.